trustfelled | Take Responsibility.

The door at the northwestern corner of the foyer is open.

It's hard to say when it opened, but the fact of the matter is that it seems to have; it leads to a separate hallway that seems to run alongside the dormitories. The hall is long and dimly-lit, but it's illuminated well enough to make it plain that the walls and floor in here are different; they're far less designed to give off an impression of grandeur - if anything, it's claustrophobic back here: the walls are close and darkly-colored, and the entire area is barren until it opens up into the room serving as your destination.

The room is circular and high-ceilinged, covered in more of the exposed wood that lines the rest of the building; there aren't any visible lights, however, which is...odd, given how bright the place is. It lends the entire area a sense of unreality; it's easy to distract yourself from it, however, once you notice this place's centerpiece.

In the center of the room is a circle of podiums, thirty in total, arranged so that everyone standing at them can see each other. So everyone can look each other in the eyes, if they so choose. The podiums are interlocked - there's no cutting across the center of the circle, and for good reason, it looks like there's a lot of nothing down there where the floor should be - and each is bearing the title of the person who's assigned to stand at it. No names, just adjectives, emblazoned across two brass panels on the very top and the front of each podium.

Affixed to the podium itself is a panel with buttons on it, and again, there are thirty in total; next to the buttons are smaller strips of engraved metal to serve as labels, bearing the titles of everyone that's been present in the facility, living or dead.

All of the podiums are identical, except for the one intended for Sayaka. The podium that should bear Attentive's title has had a black cloth draped over it, and a copy of Sayaka's profile photo is sitting on top of it, framed and colorless, an image in greyscale.

Juri is nowhere to be found in here, but that doesn't mean you're alone down here; the feeling that you're being watched is strong, and he'll wait until you've had time to take in what you're looking at before he addresses you - over the public-address system again, from the sound of it.

"Attentive's dead, and somebody's to blame for it - but you guys get to decide whether Rule Seven's carried out or not. It's your job to hold them responsible for what they've done. Good luck in doing it."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... ... ...

Please tell me you didn't imply this is some kind of hit list.

It certainly could be. The rules apply to all of us in equal measure. I'm sure Sayaka-san had a reason to want to escape as well.

But we were already talking about other ways to escape! That if we all worked together, we could stand strong against the Adjudicator -- and no one would die!

That don't mean everyone's willin' to listen...or that someone didn't panic...

I know, but-- to imply that it's Sayaka's--!

Maybe it was a list of people she liked, instead?

If it was in her handwritin', Ah mean.

A crush list? Of Inigo, Brady... and Chitoge?

[She contemplates it for a moment.]

... ... ...

I guess it's possible?

..Ah actually meant folks she considered friends, but Ah reckon it could be that, too.

[Given her own list of crushes she's not judging...]

[uM!!

He does not say anything and just coughs and looks away]

Just how naive are you? [ That's funny, everyone working together.]

... I am not naive. [Oh, hey, that finally put a bit of pep back into her step.]

Look, is there anyone here who wants to do this? I'm sure even the most bloodthirsty among you don't want to win by his rules.

We can all work together and make it through this! If we can't-- well, the only thing stopping us is our own selves!

Edited 2016-07-09 17:29 (UTC)

Sure sounds like it. [ Nope not backing down.

He pointedly ignores the second question.]

You don't know how easily people crack, do you?

[She crosses her arms.]

People can be stronger than you're giving them credit for.

And far, far weaker, as well. Whoever murdered poor Sayaka didn't make it a week.

Hey, someone actually gets it.

Then maybe that's our fault! That we didn't take this seriously enough, and reach out to someone who was already at the breaking point!

We can make it through this without anymore innocent people dying! I just-- I know it!

(no subject)

middaymoon - 2016-07-09 18:06 (UTC) - Expand

onedrinkwithme - 2016-07-09 18:47 (UTC) - Expand

[...You both have good points so he's just going to stay silent on this issue.]

Some people just care more about themselves than helping others. Would have been nice though, if someone didn't pull something like this.

[ He's definitely incensed. His hands are clenched -- if only everyone could work together and not have the situation come to...this. ]

All we can do for now is work on finding out who did it and kick their ass. Then, we move on from there.

Do we have to answer this crime with more violence? I want justice for Sayaka too, but... can't we just lock them up, instead?

[Come to think of it, the rules didn't mention anything about what happens after, did they? Just something about taking responsibility for your actions.]

... If I theorize right, then their escape would mean death for the rest of us as well. Competitions only have one winner, after all, though I wouldn't like anyone to take my words to heart unless we're certain.

I didn't say we'd let them escape! The only thing it says is that they won't win if they're discovered, which means they'd stay here.

So... I don't know. We tie them up, and the rest of us sane people figure another way out!

[ sane people ]

[you're just eccentric, right...??? totally different]

It would only be right if the injustice that would lead twenty-eight others to their death would be their own in return, is what I mean. I wouldn't like it myself, seeing as that would involve blood and that's distasteful, but it is a possibility.

Locking them up is certainly punishment enough to me, provided we find a way to do it.

meanttobe - 2016-07-09 17:57 (UTC) - Expand

seventhprogenitor - 2016-07-09 17:59 (UTC) - Expand

flagitate - 2016-07-09 18:00 (UTC) - Expand

Yes, that sounds like something that's possible.